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Isles offseason Targets; the DMen |
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Today we continue our three-part series examining who could help the Islanders come July 1st and who might be available via trade. The second installment of this series will focus on the defenseman. I’m not going to go through the current roster of blue liners, but let’s assume that the only locks for next year’s core of d-men are Travis Hamonic, Calvin de Haan and Lubomir Visnovsky. The remaining five spots will be determined during camp and one of the kids should make the team next season. I do believe though that there is a roster spot open that Islanders’ General Manager Garth Snow needs to fill with one quality defenseman.
Here lies the problem: Who can the Islanders bring in that can help this blue line? The crop of pending unrestricted free agents at this position is thin to say the least. However, I do believe there are some players available that could help stabilize this roster.
The biggest free agent name is Matt Niskanen. I do believe that if he gets to free agency he will have the pick of teams that he could play for and will get a massive pay day. For those reasons, I don’t see him as an option. There are two veteran d-men that could help but they are not the youngest players in the league. Andrei Markov and Dan Boyle could both be possible targets and could help this team short term. A one or two-year deal to either could make sense. I’m not looking for a top 4, long-term solution. Those players are simply not available. What I’m suggesting is a better bridge to the numerous prospects that the Isles have waiting in the wings. Therefore, I would consider either Markov or Boyle.
A couple other blue liners that could attract the Isles’ interest are Derek Morris, Andrej Meszaros and Tom Gilbert. Any of these three players would offer a steady, reliable blue liner that could help provide depth to this position. To be clear, Bobby Orr is not a free agent on July 1st. All the players I have mentioned are good veteran defenseman and that is something the Islanders are desperately missing. Garth Snow failed to provide a bridge to the youth in this organization. The names that I am mentioning can be considered as a better option than the likes of Matt Carkner and Brian Strait.
Finally, since we have talked about small moves to sure up this team, there is one player who could be available via trade that would be the superstar acquisition. That player is Canadiens d-man P.K. Subban. There have been rumblings in Montreal that the Habs do not want to sign the Norris Trophy winner to a long-term contract. There has also been friction between Subban and the coaching staff. Additionally, Subban is under a microscope in Montreal and every second of every shift is scrutinized. Will this make P.K. available this summer?
If the answer is yes, then Isles G.M. Garth Snow needs to run through the walls of the Bell Centre like the Kool-Aid Man. The price for a number one d-man who will be 25 next month will be through the roof. I would imagine it would take three pieces to acquire Subban. There are only four players in this league I would trade Ryan Strome for, and Subban is one of them. The cost would probably be Strome, one of the blue chip defensive prospects, and either a draft pick or another roster player. If the Isles really want to make a splash this summer, Subban would be the target.
A lot will happen this offseason, but there is a clear need for help on this blue line. The Islanders have to build a better bridge to these kids. Now the question is, will this help be a good, respectable NHL veteran or will it be a home run swing trying to bring in one of the better young players in the game to Long Island?
On Monday we will look at possible free agent targets who could help the Islanders’ group of forwards. I know that this is considered the team’s strength, but there are some tweaks that could make this group even more potent. As always, for more on all things hockey, please follow me on Twitter at @DanDanNoodles78.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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